DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTERThirty years of Teaching, Learning, Caring for marine mammals and the environment we share.DRC is a nonprofit marine mammal education and research facility located in the heart of the fabulous Florida Keys. Home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions, DRC offers a variety of educational, fun, exciting programs, and close-up interactions. We hope you enjoy our blog!

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Join us in celebrating the beautiful Santini's 28th Birthday! Santini is half sister to Merina, Aleta and Talon, and the mother of
Tanner and Reese. She loves the spotlight and commands attention when
she soars on her dives and flips. A founder of our Dolphin Encounter swim program, “Tina” is exceptionally gentle and adaptive towards guests with special needs. An avid sports fisherman, Santini catches live fish
in her lagoon then gives them to trainers in trade for herring! Santini enjoys participating in programs and showing off her beautiful athletic
behaviors.

DRC's resident "Teacher's Pet", Santini would love you to help continue our dedication
to promoting peaceful coexistence, cooperation and communication between marine
mammals and humans and the environment through research and education by signing up for a DRC membership. As a nonprofit organization that relies on our members, donors, interactive programs,and guests to provide the best care for the dolphins and sea lions, our memberships give you an inside look into the families world via our bi-monthly newsletters and monthly electronic updates. Thank you for joining us in celebrating Santini's birthday!

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

The first successful calf born on the Dolphin Research Center grounds was this beautiful lady. Today, Tursi is celebrating her 41st birthday! Join us in celebrating her day.

Tursi is the daughter of two “Flipper” dolphins
who starred in the original movies. Her name is derived from her
species, Tursiops truncatus. Tursi is DRC’s “Super Mom” and is a
protective mom to Talon, Pax, Gypsi and Gambit. In addition to raising
kids, she helps raise new trainers, teaching them who is really in
charge! Tursi is a spectacular athlete, and her claim to fame is her
“screaming dive” – a high leap with a celebratory “Yah” at the peak! Proving that the Flipper genetics are strong, all of Tursi's children are equally as athletic.

As it is part of our philosophy to provide a forever home to marine mammals who are born here or came to the facilities for various reasons, this is the only home Tursi has ever known. We think of ourselves as one big family here at DRC, with Tursi being the nurturing mom we love dearly.If you'd like to buy this Flipper daughter a bucket of fish or adopt her today, you'll be helping DRC continue its mission of promoting
peaceful coexistence, cooperation and communication between marine mammals and
humans and the environment through research and education.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Find out what we learned about the dolphins ability to understand object permanence in Dolphin Research Center's published research study. "What do Dolphins Understand about
Hidden Objects" was published by the prestigious scientific journal
"Animal Cognition".

Saturday, November 22, 2014

We're celebrating twice the joy here at Dolphin Research Center. Why? Because November 22nd is both Delta's and Pandora's birthday! Happy Birthday, you fabulous dolphins.

Delta is the first baby born to Aleta and is half brother Pandora, Gambit, and one year old Diva. A boisterous typical boy, Delta loves swimming fast, jumping and
playing with balls (especially tossing them over fences!) As a
youngster, Delta has difficulty sometimes sitting through “kindergarten
class." He enjoys swimming around the lagoon and seeing what everyone
else is doing. He sometimes takes another young dolphin with him as he
plays hooky! Step down onto one of the floating docks, and you're sure to grab Delta's attention. He is one of the bravest of the young kid clan and isn't afraid to be the first to play with a new object or game.

Pandora is the oldest of her siblings, Calusa, Cayo & Flagler
(Merina’s kids) and Delta and Gambit (Kibby’s kids). She excels at
studying human behavior and is an avid people watcher. This results in a
young lady who has high standards when it comes to her relationships
with humans – she expects YOU to entertain HER! Always smiling and
calling out for attention, Pandora is a party waiting to happen. Do you hear a dolphin screaming at unsuspecting guests? That's usually Pandora. If you're not 100% sure who she is, look for the bright pink belly with freckles. Dolphins are born with pink stomachs and as they get older they fade to light gray. Pandora's stayed bright pink, which is a great way to figure out who she is in whatever social group she decides to be in that day.

Founded
in 1984, Dolphin Research Center
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting peaceful coexistence,
cooperation and communication between marine mammals and humans and the
environment through research and education.Located on the Overseas
Highway at mile marker 59, Grassy Key, the center
is an accredited member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.

Friday, November 21, 2014

She may be a mother of five (Pandora, Calusa, Cayo, Flagler and Windley) but she's surely one of the coolest moms we know! Merina was born at DRC in 1984 and is half-sister to Aleta, Santini and
Talon. She is our most successful mother and her legacy continues with
Pandora, Calusa, Cayo, Flagler and Windley. In addition to being an amazing Mom,
her resume includes modeling and acting – she loves being in front of
the camera! Merina enjoys a challenge and excels at creative training,
such as combination behaviors. She is especially proud of her birth impression, where she dives through the air, wiggles her flippers, and does a seagull impression all at the same time.

If you'd like to buy Merina a Birthday bucket of fish or adopt her, you can do so on our website. As a nonprofit organization, DRC relies on its members for support and to give the dolphins and sea lions the best care. They receive restaurant quality fish, excellent healthcare, and are loved dearly by their human family members.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

There are several ways to keep up with the Dolphin Research Center family, besides visiting our blog.

You can check us out on Facebook. Through education, research and rescue, Dolphin Research Center promotes peaceful coexistence,
cooperation and communication between marine mammals, humans and the environment we share with
the well being of DRC's animals taking precedence.
Every day, we post items that tie back into our mission.

If you're into 140 character statuses, don't forget to check out our Twitter page.

Have you adopted a dolphin or sea lion? Who? If you're already a member, feel free to access the Members' Only section of the DRC website. This entitles you to access to our past Dolphin Society and Gray Cross newsletters, monthly Pod Updates, finding out What's New with the family, and so much more!

Don't forget to browse our site for information about our Research, Educational programs and Fun Facts, College, Hot Topics, or to Plan Your Day with us.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

November 15th is a happy day here at Dolphin Research Center because it's Flagler's Birthday!

Flagler is the first (and only) male to join Merina’s lineage of girls, Pandora,
Calusa, Cayo and Windley. He is the second successful baby born at DRC with the
help of artificial insemination (A.I.) technology. Flagler is proving
to be a little “brainiac” and began imitating his mother at around six
months of age giving him a wide repertoire of fun behaviors! Although he
is big for his age, his father is Theater of the Sea's big guy Stormy, Flagler is easygoing and loves playing with the
other youngsters in his free time.

Flagler loves to meet new people and is especially fond of saying to members. If you'd like to adopt Flagler today please click here. You can also buy the big four year old boy a bucket of fish.

As a nonprofit organization, DRC relies on wonderful supporters like yourself to put the fish right back in the dolphins' and sea lions' buckets. It's because of you that we are able to continue our mission of teaching, learning, and caring for the environment.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Since the day she was born on November 12, 2013, Windley has had an
adventurous and friendly spirit. She is often seen playing either with
her best friend and cousin, Diva, or on her own using toys in her
lagoon. As the youngest daughter of Merina, it’s no surprise that
Windley is drop dead gorgeous. Just like her big sisters, Pandora, Calusa, and Cayo,
and her older brother Flagler, Windley enjoys fun games and loving from
her trainers. She’s a big fan of back rubs, kisses, tongue tickles, and
high fives.

As a one year old dolphin, Windley is now up for adoption on our website. To celebrate her big day, why not give her a bucket of fish or adopt her and receive a DRC membership? It's a great way to support DRC's mission of research and educating the public about marine mammals and the environment! As a nonprofit organization, DRC is funded entirely by members, donors, and guests. Every dollar goes right back in Windley's, and the rest of the dolphins and sea lions, bucket.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Today, we celebrate Veterans Day. Thank you to all the men and women who serve or have served in our military.

Throughout the year, Dolphin Research Center works with Wounded Warrior Project
on many programs, including Soldier Ride and
Project Odyssey. We also welcome active duty personnel and their
families to visit year round as part of
our Military DolFriend program. DRC staff and volunteers are always
deeply touched by the impact the dolphins make on the service members
and their families. It is an honor and a privilege to give back to our
military and veterans. To learn more about our work with the military, please visit the Special Needs portion of the DRC website.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Today is a fintastic day here at Dolphin Research Center. We are celebrating a Flipper grandson's Birthday! Happy Birthday to Gambit who turns four today.

Gambit is the newest Flipper grandchild to join the family. Son to Tursi and Kibby, his siblings
are Talon, Pax, Pandora, Gypsi and Delta. From an early age Gambit has
had a mind of his own, breaking away from protective Mom Tursi and doing
his own thing. In personality he is laid back like his dad Kibby. Gambit
enjoys “kindergarten” but can be a spacey student at times, in his own
world!

Recently Gambit has spent a lot of time with his older sister, Gypsi. The two of them are a great pairing for Dolphin Encounters and other fun interactive programs. Gambit especially loves going in for kisses and dorsal pulls.

Want to help Gambit have a day to remember? You can buy him a bucket of fish or adopt the cute little guy for a year long DRC membership that gives you access to our bi-monthly newsletter and monthly e-news.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Admission to Dolphin Research Center gives you access to a variety of narrated boardwalk and theater presentations throughout the day. These educational experiences take place about every half an hour.

To salute the brave men and women of
the United States Armed Forces, Dolphin Research Center is offering free admission
to veterans, current military service personnel and their immediate families on
Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11th. Personnel only need to show their military
identification cards or other proof of military service when they arrive at the
facility.Dolphin Research Center offers
fun-filled, educational narrated behavior demonstrations throughout the day and
a variety of exciting interactive programs that bring guests up close to their
family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions.

Dolphin
Research Center maintains a strong commitment to the armed forces.Every day the center offers a military
discount of $2.50 off the regular adult admission.This discount is available to all military
personnel and veterans.Several staff
members also served in the armed forces, including Co-Founder/Chief Operating
Officer Mandy Rodriguez who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.On the facility's grounds, there is a special
garden area dedicated to veterans of all wars.This garden was originally installed by a group of veterans who
participated in a dolphin assisted therapy program.DRC also works closely with the Wounded Warrior
Project throughout the year and was honored to receive a Carry Forward Award
from the organization.